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Transcript of Forest Fires

Budapest San Francisco Forest Fires A presentation about a type of natural disaster By: Mandy, Karalyn & Rachel What is a forest fire? Historical Incidences Wildfires and Forest Fires in the Past The Wallow Fire in Arizona and New Mexico has now become one of the largest wild fires in history! The wild fire started on May 29th 2011 and officially ended on July 8th 2011. The Salmon Arm Fire started in 1998 and took place in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. 7,000 people were evacuated from the area and 40 buildings were destroyed. The Manitoba Fires in 1989 were multiple wildfires that consisted of 1,200 fires throughout the province of Manitoba. The reason for these fires were bad drought conditions. Around 25,000 people were evacuated and over 100 homes were destroyed. The Waldo Canyon Fire started on June 23rd 2012. Over 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes, and 346 homes were destroyed. Causes of Forest Fires Did you Know 90% of forest fires are caused by humans... In order for a forest fire or wildfire to start, there needs to be "fuel", like trees, branches or leaves. There also needs to be oxygen and heat. Most Significant Occurances of Forest Fires The Largest Forest Fire The largest forest fire was the Great Black Dragon Fire in 1987 that burned 3 million acres in Northern China and 15 million acres in Siberia, totaling 18 million acres. The Longest Lasting Forest Fire The longest lasting forest fire was the South One Fire in Virginia, which started on June 9th 2008 and ended on October 7th 2008. This fire burned around 5,000 acres of land and it took $11 million to put out. The Most Devestating and Deadly The most devestating and deadly forest fire was the Peshtigo Fire in 1871, which wiped out the town of Peshtigo, killing around 1,500-2,500 people. 12 million acres of land was burned. It was believed that drought conditions and high temperatures were the causes of this fire. Recent Occurences The Waldo Canyon Fire started on June 23rd, 2012 in Colorado. 32,000 people were evacuated from their homes. This was by far the most expensive wildfire in Colorado history, causing over $352.6 million dollars in damage, along with 346 homes damaged. A series of California wildfires has been happening since 2011. A wildfire that happened recently broke out on May 31st 2013 in New Mexico, California. It destroyed five structures, and forced nearly 1,000 people to evacuate. -Five days earlier, on Monday, May 27, a forest fire occurred in Los Padres National Park, Santa Barbara, California. 1,000 campers and 4,000 residents were evacuated. The New Mexico fire in 2012 was known as the largest fire in New Mexico state history. Locations where Forest Fires Occur Forest fires occur in hot and dry climaxes. The most common place that forest fires occur in is Australia, due to the hot temperatures. Other places where forest fires occur are the Western Cape of South Africa and throughout the dry forests and grasslands of North America and Europe. Benefits of Forest Fires It might be hard to believe, but forest fires DO have benefits to the earth. Forest fires remove the buildup of dead leaves, logs and pine needles that accumulate on the forest floor. This reduces "competition" between wildlife and also produces great conditions for plants and trees to grow. Forest fires return nutrients to the soil and allow a variety of new plants and species to regrow healthily. Without regular and natural forest fires destroying some of the earth's vegetation, the forests grow very dense and become a huge source of fuel for future forest fires. The Impact on Human and Wildlife Forest fires release biomass smoke which has pollutants in it and has very bad effects on health when inhaled. Forest fires also disturb ecosystems and animal habitats. Forest fires affect the fertility of the soil. They also harm water bodies by changing the taste of it and increasing the growth of bacteria in it. Wood, plants and other dry things can burn very easily, causing more fuel for the forest fire and more danger for humans and wildlife. Forest fires make it difficult for trees and vegetation to regrow. Also, rain and snow causes the soil to erode and runoff ash pollute into rivers, which harms wildlife. Current Technology that can Prevent Forest Fires Companies such as "Forest Technology Systems" have technology and equipment that transmit information about signs. (Danger to Mild.)The equipment can also predict forest fires using automated weather stations. "Tree Power" is a sensor system that uses trees into self sustaining power supply and is generated with electricity. Tree Power is also updated 4 times a day with wirelessly transmit signals, or immediately if there is a fire. The system also provides satelite photos if there is a forest fire occuring somewhere. Though technology is very useful and helpful, it is very expensive. This is a video of firefighters fighting a fire. Credit goes to Russia Today. This is a video of the Santa Barbara, California wildfire that happened recently. Credit: The Associated Press, and hitchhiker1947. What is a forest fire? A forest fire is a severe, uncontrollable and massive fire that happens in wooded and dry areas. A forest fire can also be called a “wildfire”, and can be natural or man-made. Major causes of forest fires are: -Lightening-Volcano eruptions-Sparks from rocks-Spontaneous combustion-Climate Change/Global Warming Forest fires are caused by humans, from discarded cigarettes to arson. -Underground coal fires and coal desposits also cause forest fires-Railway activity and forestry companies cause 15% of the fires each year From 1990 to 1999, lightening was 40% of the cause of forest fires. Tree Power can locate & prevent forest fires! RACHEL, KARA,MANDY hi,letssave theearth! Thanks for watching!!! credits Researchers: Mandy, Karalyn & Rachel Report Writer: Mandy Prezi Designer: Karalyn Map: Rachel Editor: Mandy & Karalyn Hope you enjoyed it! SCIENTISTS TESTING OUT TREE POWER This is a FOREST. THAT IS AFRICA. NEW MEXICO FIRE IN 2012 LAST REMAINING LOGS FROM THE FIRE. TREES LIGHTENING Volcano eruptions are a major cause offorest fires. Manitoba Fires-worst fires that occured in Manitoba. Picture taken during the Waldo Canyon Fire. Salmon Arm Fire-You can seethe smoke rising. WALLOW FIRE-ARIZONA Flames blazing during an unknown forest fire. Bibliography http://www.outsideonline.com/blog/outdoor-adventure/science/smokey-got-it-wrong.html Lisa Lombardi, December 3rd 2009, [Online] Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldo_Canyon_Fire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshtigo_Fire Wikipedia Editors, [Online] Available Google, [Online] Available http://www.google.ca http://www.google.ca/images http://www.obj.ca/Opinion/2011-03-10/article-2316790/The-benefits-of-forest-fires/1 Michael Alam, March 10th 2011, [Online] Available YouTube, [Online] Available Bridget Johnson, [Online] Available http://worldnews.about.com/od/disasters/tp/worstwildfires.htm Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources, [Online] Available http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/AFFM/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166009.html Causes of Forest Fires, [Online] Available http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/forestfires/causesoffire.shtml Five Worst Forest Fires, [Online] Available http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/forestfires/tenworst.shtml Chandramita Bora, Forest Fires [Online] Available http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-causes-forest-fires.html Andrea Macpherson, September 20th 2011, [Online] Available http://www.news1130.com/2011/09/20/technology-used-to-predict-and-prevent-forest-fires/ Elizabeth A. Thomson, September 23rd 2008, [Online] Available http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/trees-0923.html Nanjowe, March 29th 2010, [Online] Available http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/19422.aspx Darren Bruhjell, Forest Fire Effects [Online] Available http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/range/publications/documents/fire5.htm http://www.youtube.com Bibliography A severe forest fire. The last logs from this fire.